Clothes hanger having extension rods

ABSTRACT

A clothes hanger may be configured with extension rods that are adapted to cause a lower portion of a garment hung on the hanger to be pulled tautly between the extension rods. The extension rods may be adapted to cooperate to impede wrinkling of a lower portion of the garment. The hanger may have a hook portion and a shoulder portion. The extension rods may be flexible and resilient, and may be coupled to the shoulder portion via respective torsion springs, or by a detent mechanism. The hanger may include a housing that contains the torsion springs or detent mechanism. At least one of the extension rods may be a telescoping rod. The rods may be hinged to the shoulder portion. The rods may be adapted to be folded up into the hanger to emulate the look of a conventional clothes hanger.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Provisional U.S. PatentApplication No. 62/382,452, filed Sep. 1, 2016, the disclosure of whichis incorporated by reference.

This application is related to U.S. Design patent application No.[CREA_0001_D01], filed on even date herewith, entitled “Clothes Hanger,”to U.S. Design patent application No. [CREA_0001_D02], filed on evendate herewith, entitled “Clothes Hanger,” and to U.S. Design patentapplication No. [CREA_0001_D03], filed on even date herewith, entitled“Clothes Hanger.” The disclosure of each of the foregoing design patentapplications is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

A typical clothes hanger includes a hook portion, and a shoulder portioncoupled to the hook portion. A garment, such as a shirt, blouse,sweater, jacket, coat, or other garment adapted to be worn over theshoulders of and around a human torso, may be placed onto the hangersuch that the hook portion of the hanger extends through the neck of thegarment, and the shoulders of the garment are supported by the shoulderportion of the hanger. With a conventional clothes hanger, the lowerportion of the garment hangs freely. That is, a conventional clotheshanger does not support the lower portion of the garment.

When placed on a conventional clothes hanger, the unsupported lowerportion of a garment may fold over on itself, especially when thegarment is tightly pressed among other adjacent garments, say, in acloset, or packed in a suitcase, for example. Such folding may causeunsightly wrinkling in the lower portion of the garment, and may renderthe garment unwearable. The cost of dry cleaning or laundering andpressing such garments is wasted if the garment, though clean, cannot beworn due to unsightly wrinkling. And, though wearing such a wrinkledgarment may be embarrassing, it may often be necessary if, for example,an iron cannot be found.

It would be desirable, therefore, if there were available, an improvedhanger that mitigates the tendency of the lower portion of a garment tofold over on itself, and thereby impedes wrinkling that results fromsuch folding.

SUMMARY

As disclosed herein, a clothes hanger may include a shoulder portionhaving a first end portion and a second end portion disposed oppositethe first end portion. A first extension rod may extend from the firstend portion, and a second extension rod may extend from a second endportion. One or both of the extension rods may be flexible andresilient. The extension rods may be configured to flex inwardlyrelative to one another. The extension rods may be adapted to cause alower portion of a garment hung on the shoulder portion of the clotheshanger to be pulled tautly between the extension rods. The extensionrods may be adapted to cooperate to impede wrinkling of a lower portionof a garment hung on the shoulder portion of the clothes hanger.

The clothes hanger may have a hook portion, a shoulder portion coupledto the hook portion, a first extension rod extending from the shoulderportion, and a second extension rod extending from the shoulder portion.The hook portion may extend from the shoulder portion in a firstdirection, while each of the extension rods extends from the shoulderportion in a direction opposite the first direction.

The clothes hanger may include a hook, a neck portion extending from thehook, a first shoulder rod extending from the neck portion, a firsttorsion spring disposed at an end of the first shoulder rod, and a firstextension rod extending from the first torsion spring. The hanger mayalso include a second shoulder rod extending from the neck portion, asecond torsion spring disposed at an end of the second shoulder rod, anda second extension rod extending from the second torsion spring. Thefirst torsion spring may be configured to produce a first tension on thefirst extension rod. The second torsion spring may be configured toproduce a second tension on the second extension rod.

Each of the extension rods may extend at least two feet from itsrespective the torsion spring. Respective distal ends of the extensionrods may be separated by about 30 inches. Each of the extension rods mayform a respective angle of about 22 to 28 degrees with a line defined bythe torsion springs. The hanger may include a housing that contains thetorsion springs. Each of the extension rods may be a telescoping rod.The telescoping rods may be hinged to the shoulder portion, such thatthe rods may be collapsed and folded into the shape of a conventionalhanger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts an example of a clothes hanger having extension rods forproviding lower support to a garment and a torsion spring formaintaining tension on the extension rods.

FIG. 2 depicts a portion of the clothes hanger depicted in FIG. 1,providing a detailed view of the torsion spring.

FIG. 3 depicts an example of a clothes hanger having extension rods forproviding lower support to a garment, with the extension rods flexedinwardly toward each other.

FIG. 4 depicts a garment hung on an example clothes hanger havingextension rods for providing lower support to the garment.

FIG. 5 depicts another example of a clothes hanger having extension rodsfor providing lower support to a garment, with a housing that contains atorsion spring for maintaining tension on the extension rods.

FIG. 6 depicts a portion of the clothes hanger depicted in FIG. 5,providing a detailed view of the torsion spring contained by thehousing.

FIG. 7 depicts an example of a clothes hanger having extension rods forproviding lower support to a garment and a detent mechanism formaintaining tension on the extension rods.

FIGS. 8A and 8B provide detailed views of a detent mechanism foradjusting tension on the extension rods.

FIG. 9 provides a detailed view of a portion of a telescoping extensionrod.

FIG. 10 depicts a clothes hanger having telescoping extension rods forproviding lower support to a garment, wherein the extension rods arefolded into a conventional hanger configuration.

FIG. 11 depicts an example garment insert having side rods for providinglower support to a garment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 depicts an example of a clothes hanger 100 having extension rods102A, 102B for providing lower support to a garment (not shown in FIG.1). The hanger 100 has one or more torsion springs, e.g., 104A, 104B formaintaining tension on the respective extension rods 102A, 102B. Thehanger 100 may be formed from a single piece of wire. The wire may bemade of a metal or a synthetic material, such as a plastic or polymer,for example, a carbon fiber polymer.

As shown, the hanger 100 may have a hook portion 108. The hook portion108 may include a hook 112, which may be formed into a “C” shape. Thehook 112 may be adapted to be selectively mounted on a dowel or othercylindrically shaped clothes rack, such as those conventionally disposedhorizontally in closets. A neck portion 110 may extend from the hookportion 112, and couple the hook portion 108 to a shoulder portion 106.The shoulder portion 106 may include a first shoulder rod 106A extendingfrom the neck portion 110. The shoulder portion 106 may include a secondshoulder rod 106 B extending from the neck portion 110. The firstshoulder rod 106A may extend from the neck portion 110 in a firstdirection (e.g., leftward as shown in FIG. 1). The second shoulder rod106 B may extend from the neck portion 110 in a second direction (e.g.,rightward as shown in FIG. 1). The second direction may be opposite thefirst direction.

One or more extension rods 102A, 102B may extend from the shoulderportion 106. As shown, the hook portion 108 may extend from the shoulderportion 106 in a first direction (e.g., upward as shown in FIG. 1),while the each of the extension rods 102A, 102B extends from theshoulder portion 106 in a direction opposite the first direction (e.g.,downward as shown in FIG. 1). Each of the extension rods 102A, 102B maybe flexible and resilient, such that the extension rods 102A, 102B maybe flexed toward one another, and such that, after the rods 102A, 102Bare released, they will return to their rest state.

Each rod 102A, 102B may be fashioned of a variety of materials such asplastics, carbon composites, metal, or wood. Each rod 102A, 102B mayalso be integrally formed with the hanger shoulder portion 106. Also,the entire rod 102A, 102B may be hollow, or solid at least in someportions or segments.

Each rod 102A, 102B may be relatively rigid; however each rod 102A, 102Bmay also be resilient, such that when the rod 102A, 102B is displacedfrom its rest position, the rod 102A, 102B tends to return forcefullyback to its rest position. Also, each rod 102A, 102B may bend orotherwise be deformed, again with a resilience tending to return the rod102A, 102B forcefully back to its rest position.

The shoulder portion 106 of the hanger 100 may define a line, L, betweenthe points from which the extension rods 102A, 102B extend from theshoulder portion 106. Each of the extension rods 102A, 102B may form arespective angle, α, β, of with the line, L, defined by the shoulderportion 106. The angles, α, β, may be in the range of about 10 to 40degrees, about 20 to 30 degrees, or about 22 to 28 degrees. Each of theextension rods 102A, 102B may extend at least two feet from the shoulderportion 106. Respective distal ends 102Ae, 102Be of the extension rods102A, 102B may be separated by a distance, d, of about 30 inches. Thedistance, d, by which the distal ends 102Ae, 102Be of the extension rods102A, 102B may be separated may range from about two feet to about threefeet. The distance, d, may be variable.

As shown in FIG. 1, the shoulder portion 106 of the hanger 100 mayinclude one or more torsion springs 104A, 104B. A first torsion spring104A may be disposed at an end of the first shoulder rod 106A. The firstextension rod 102A may extend from the first torsion spring 104A. Asecond torsion spring 104B may be disposed at an end of the secondshoulder rod 106B. The second extension rod 102B may extend from thesecond torsion spring 104B. The first torsion spring 104A may beconfigured to produce a first tension on the first extension rod 102A.The second torsion spring 104B may be configured to produce a secondtension on the second extension rod 102B.

The torsion springs 104A, 104B may define a line, L. Each of theextension rods 102A, 102B may form a respective angle, α, β, with theline, L, defined by the torsion springs 104A, 104B. The angles, α, β,may be in the range of about 10 to 40 degrees, about 20 to 30 degrees,or about 22 to 28 degrees. Each of the extension rods 102A, 102B mayextend at least two feet from its respective torsion spring 104A, 104B.

Each of the torsion springs 104A, 104B may be formed to have one or moreloops. The torsion springs 104A, 104B depicted in FIG. 1 are depicted assingle-loop torsion springs. FIG. 2 provides a detailed view of anexample single-loop torsion spring 204. As shown, the torsion spring 204may couple a first rod 206 to a second rod 202, such that the first rod206 and the second rod 202 are at an angle, y, relative to one another.

As shown in FIG. 3, the extension rods 102A, 102B may be configured toflex inwardly toward one another. Alternatively, one of the extensionrods may be flexible while the other is non-flexible, such that theflexible rod may be flexed toward the non-flexible rod (or, in seenanother way, the rods may be flexed toward one another relatively).While flexed relatively toward one another, the extension rods 102A,102B may be slipped through the neck portion of a garment (not shown inFIG. 3), such as a shirt, blouse, jacket, or coat, for example.

As shown in FIG. 4, the extension rods 102A, 102B may be slipped throughthe neck portion of a garment 40. If the garment 40 is a button-downgarment, the garment 40 may be draped over the shoulder portion 106 ofthe hanger 100, and the lower portion 40L of the garment 40 may bebuttoned around the extension rods 102A, 102B. Thus, the shoulderportion 40S of the garment 40 may be supported by the shoulder portion106 of the hanger 100, while the hook portion 108 of the hanger 100extends out from the neck portion 40N of the garment 40.

As shown, the shoulder portion 106 possesses bi-lateral symmetry, andincludes a center section to which the hook portion 108 is mounted, anda pair of preferably sloped, depending slats 107A, 107B extending ingenerally opposing directions. Respective slots 109A, 109B arepreferably disposed slightly inward from the distal ends of each slat107A, 107B, on the upper surface thereof, the purpose of which isprimarily to receive relatively thin shoulder straps of a blouse orsimilar garment. The slots 109A, 109B are optional. In the hangerdepicted in FIG. 3, the hook portion 108 is preferably fashioned ofmetal and is preferably threadably secured into the shoulder portion106, which is preferably fashioned of wood. It should be appreciatedthat the hook portion 108 and the shoulder portion 106 may be formed ofa variety of different materials such as plastics, carbon composites,metal, and wood and that the hook portion 108 may be secured to theshoulder portion 106 by other means such as by gluing or nailing.Indeed, the hook portion 108 and the shoulder portion 106 may beintegrally formed of the same material.

The extension rods 102A, 102B may be adapted to cause the lower portion40L of a garment 40 hung on the shoulder portion of the clothes hangerto be pulled tautly between the extension rods 102A, 102B. One or bothof the extension rods 102A, 102B may be flexible and resilient, suchthat when the garment 40 is hung on the hanger 100, the rods 102A, 102Beffectively pull away from one another, and thereby pull apart the sides40A, 40B of the lower portion 40L of the garment 40. Thus, the extensionrods 102A, 102B may be adapted to cooperate with one another to impedewrinkling of a lower portion 40L of a garment 40 hung on the shoulderportion 106 of the clothes hanger 100.

Thus, when a garment 40 is placed on the hanger 100, the lower portionof each extension rod 102A, 102B is deformed in a slightly inward curve,and the lower portion of each rod 102A, 102B abuts an associatedinterior, lateral side 40A, 40B of the garment 40, whereby theresilience of the rods 102A, 102B causes each rod 102A, 102B to beforcibly pressed against the associated interior, lateral side 40A, 40Bof the garment 40, whereby the garment 40 is pulled and stretched in ataut condition. As such, the hanger 100 helps both to prevent wrinklingof the garment 40 while the garment 40 is on the hanger 100, and toreduce any wrinkling that may already have been in the garment 40 beforethe garment 40 was placed on the hanger 100. Also, the hanger 100 helpsmaintain the garment 40 in a relatively planar condition that may beeasily placed on and removed from a clothes rack and may be maintainedin a suitcase or other garment bag, again in a condition that inhibitswrinkling.

The hanger 100 may include frictional elements to inhibit the apparelfrom moving upward along each rod 102A, 102B. As shown in FIG. 3, forexample, each rod 102A, 102B may be provided with a pair offriction-generating members 30 spaced from the lower distal end 102Ae,102Be of each rod 102A, 102B, and also spaced from the other member(s)30 on the same rod. The members 30 may be made of cylindrical or bulbouspieces of soft rubber or soft foam secured to the associated rod 102A,102B by adhesive or other securing means. Each member 30 may protrudelaterally outward from the associated rod 102A, 102B so as to be inintimate contact with the interior surface of an article of apparelhanging on the hanger and thus to inhibit upward movement of theapparel, which helps maintain the apparel in an unwrinkled condition.Alternatively, or in addition, one or more portions of each rod 102A,102B, or each entire rod 102A, 102B, may be coated with such a softrubber, a soft foam, or other non-slip material to help inhibit upwardmovement of the apparel.

FIG. 5 depicts another example of a clothes hanger 120 having extensionrods 102A, 102B for providing lower support to a garment (not shown inFIG. 5). As shown, the hanger 120 may include a housing 116. The housing116 may be made of wood, or plastic, or the like. Thus, the hanger 120may be configured more like a conventional wood or plastic hanger. Also,the hanger 120 depicted in FIG. 5 has a broader shoulder portion 106than does the wire-frame hanger 100 depicted in FIG. 1. Such a broadershoulder portion 106 may provide more support for the shoulder portionof a garment hung on the hanger 120.

The housing 116 may contain one or more torsion springs 124A, 124B. Thetorsion springs 124A, 124B may be configured to maintain tension on theextension rods 102A, 102B. As shown in FIG. 5, the torsion springs 124A,124B may be multi-loop torsion springs. Alternatively, the torsionsprings 124A, 124B could be single-loop torsion springs, such as thosedescribed above.

FIG. 6 depicts a portion of the clothes hanger 120 depicted in FIG. 5,providing a detailed view of the multi-loop torsion springs 124A, 124Bcontained by the housing 116. The housing 116 may be made in twoopposing parts, which may be fused together over a wire frame, such asdepicted in FIG. 1. Or the housing may be molded onto the wire frame.The housing 116 have a thickness, t₁, from front to back, and thickness,t₂, from top to bottom. The thickness, t₁, may be about ¾″ to one inch.The thickness, t₂, may be about 1-4 inches, depending on the hangerdesign. The housing may be about 18″ wide from shoulder to shoulder. Thewidth of the housing may range from 14-20 inches, or from one to twofeet.

FIG. 7 depicts an example of a clothes hanger having extension rods forproviding lower support to a garment and a hinge and detent mechanismfor maintaining tension on the extension rods. The detent mechanism maybe used instead of the torsion springs described above.

As shown in FIG. 7, the hanger 200 may include a pair of essentiallyidentical extension rods 202A, 202B each depending and extending fromthe lower surface of the shoulder portion 206 of the hanger 200. Anupper distal end of each rod 202A, 202B may be secured to an associatedlower surface of each slat 206A, 206B, near the distal end thereof, andgenerally beneath an associated slot (not shown in FIG. 7). The upperdistal end of each rod 202A, 202B may be secured to an associated slat206A, 206B by drilling a corresponding shaped hole in the slat and theneither by inserting the rod 202A, 202B into the hole in a press-fitmanner, by gluing the end of the rod 202A, 202B into the hole, or byother suitable means. Alternatively, the shoulder portion 206 and therods 202A, 202B may be integrally formed. Each rod 202A, 202B may have alength of about 2-4 feet. The rods 202A, 202B may be straight (orlinear), but may be curved, serrated, or otherwise non-linear. The rods202A, 202B may be splayed and diverge at an angle in the range of 10 to40 degrees, and very preferably about 20 to 30 degrees, and mostpreferably about 22 to 28 degrees.

Using detent mechanisms 204A, 204B, the angles of diversion, a and (3,can be selectively varied. FIGS. 8A and 8B provide detailed views of adetent mechanism 224 for adjusting tension on an extension rod 202. Asshown, the detent mechanism 224 may include opposing clutch portions224A, 224B and a button 226. When the button 226 is depressed, theopposing clutch portions 224A, 224B open relative to one another. Anextension rod, such as described herein (not shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B),may be engaged to one of the clutch portions 224A, 224B. For example,the rod may be received into a hole 228 in the clutch portion 224A. Therod may then be used to turn the clutch portion to which it is engaged.When the button 226 is released, the clutch portions 224A, 224Bre-engage one another, holding the rod at the selected angle ofdiversion.

Each rod may be segmented or non-segmented. The rods 102A, 102B depictedin FIG. 1 are non-segmented. The rods 202A, 202B depicted in FIG. 7 aresegmented. If the rods are segmented, segments of each rod may beconfigured to telescope with respect to adjacent rod segments, such thatthe effective length of a segmented, or telescoping, rod may beselectively changed.

FIG. 9 provides a detailed view of a portion of a telescoping extensionrod. The telescoping position may be maintained through a friction-fitbetween surfaces of adjacent telescoping segments, or may be selectivelymaintained with a set screw passing threadably through the wall of theouter telescoping segment and adapted for selective, forceful engagementagainst the outer surface of the inner telescoping segment. As shown inFIG. 9, in a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a rod 202, each rod202 may comprise a cylindrical upper section 202U that is hollow, and acylindrical lower section 202L that may be either solid or hollow. Theouter diameter of the lower section 202L may be very slightly smallerthan the inner diameter of the upper section 202U such that the lowersection 202L may slide longitudinally within the upper section 202U. Therelative positions of the two sections 202U, 202L may be selectivelyfixed by a set screw 24 that extends threadably through the wall of theupper section 202U. By turning the set screw 24 in one rotationaldirection, the set screw 24 advances toward the periphery of the lowersection 202L, eventually contacts the lower section 202L, and thenforcefully compresses the lower section 202L against the opposing innersurface of the upper section 202U. Such compression causes the lowersection 202L to be restrained from longitudinal movement relative to theupper section 202U. Turning the set screw 24 in the other rotationaldirection retracts the set screw 24 away from the lower section 202L.

FIG. 10 depicts a clothes hanger 200 having telescoping extension rods202A, 202B for providing lower support to a garment, wherein theextension rods 202A, 202B are folded into a conventional hangerconfiguration. As shown, the several segments 202U, 202L of atelescoping rod can be nested within one another to shorten the rodlength. The rod length can be shortened such that it can be folded intothe hanger housing (by rotating the detent mechanism 204A, 204B). Assuch, the hanger 200 with the folded rods 202A, 202B can be configuredto the form and function of a conventional hanger, for storage, or useas a conventional hanger, where the lower portion of the garment hangsfreely.

FIG. 11 depicts an example garment insert 300 having side rods 302A,302B for providing lower support to a garment (not shown in FIG. 11). Asshown, the insert 300 may have a first elongated side rod 302A, a secondelongated side rod 302B, and a central rod 304 coupled to each of theside rods 302A, 302B. The side rods 302A, 302B may be rigid, or flexibleand resilient, such as described above in connection with extensionrods. The central rod 304 may be a torsion rod, which may be elongatedor contracted by twisting an outer rod portion 304A relative to an innerrod portion 304B.

The garment insert 300 may be inserted into a garment such that the siderods 302A, 302B contact the sides of the lower portion of the garment.The central rod 304 may be elongated (or contracted) to the point wherethe side rods 302A, 302B effectively cause the lower portion of thegarment to be pulled tautly between the side rods 302A, 302B. Thegarment insert 300 may be used alone, say, for packing garments in asuitcase or garment bag, or it may be used as an extension to aconventional hanger to form a structure that will work effectively asthe hanger examples described above.

What is claimed:
 1. A clothes hanger, comprising: a hook; a neck portionextending from the hook; a first shoulder rod extending from the neckportion; a first torsion spring disposed at an end of the first shoulderrod; and a first extension rod extending from the first torsion spring.2. The clothes hanger of claim 1, further comprising: a second shoulderrod extending from the neck portion; a second torsion spring disposed atan end of the second shoulder rod; and a second extension rod extendingfrom the second torsion spring.
 3. The clothes hanger of claim 2,wherein the first torsion spring is configured to produce a firsttension on the first extension rod.
 4. The clothes hanger of claim 3,wherein the second torsion spring is configured to produce a secondtension on the second extension rod.
 5. The clothes hanger of claim 4,wherein each of the extension rods is resilient.
 6. The clothes hangerof claim 5, wherein each of the extension rods extends at least two feetfrom a respective one of the torsion springs.
 7. The clothes hanger ofclaim 5, wherein respective distal ends of the extension rods areseparated by at least 30 inches.
 8. The clothes hanger of claim 5,wherein the first and second torsion springs define a line, and whereineach of the extension rods forms a respective angle of about 22 to 28degrees with the line defined by the torsion springs.
 9. A clotheshanger, comprising: a hook portion; a shoulder portion coupled to thehook portion; a first extension rod extending from the shoulder portion;and a second extension rod extending from the shoulder portion; whereinat least one of the extension rods is flexible and resilient.
 10. Theclothes hanger of claim 9, wherein the hook portion extends from theshoulder portion in a first direction, and the each of the extensionrods extends from the shoulder portion in a direction opposite the firstdirection.
 11. The clothes hanger of claim 10, wherein the extensionrods are adapted to cause a lower portion of a garment hung on theshoulder portion of the clothes hanger to be pulled tautly between theextension rods.
 12. A clothes hanger, comprising: a shoulder portionhaving a first end portion and a second end portion disposed oppositethe first end portion; a first extension rod extending from the firstend portion of the shoulder portion; and a second extension rodextending from a second end portion of the shoulder portion; wherein atleast one of the extension rods is flexible and resilient.
 13. Theclothes hanger of claim 12, wherein each of the extension rods iscoupled to the shoulder portion via a respective torsion spring.
 14. Theclothes hanger of claim 13, further comprising a housing that containsthe torsion springs.
 15. The clothes hanger of claim 12, wherein each ofthe extension rods is a telescoping rod.
 16. The clothes hanger of claim15, wherein the telescoping rods are hinged to the shoulder portion. 17.The clothes hanger of claim 12, wherein each of the extension rodsextends from the shoulder portion by at least two feet.
 18. The clotheshanger of claim 12, wherein the extension rods are configured to flexinwardly relative to one another.
 19. The clothes hanger of claim 18,wherein the extension rods are adapted to cause a lower portion of agarment hung on the shoulder portion of the clothes hanger to be pulledtautly between the extension rods.
 20. The clothes hanger of claim 18,wherein the extension rods are adapted to cooperate to impede wrinklingof a lower portion of a garment hung on the shoulder portion of theclothes hanger.